Diatomite is a kind of siliceous rock, a biogenic siliceous sedimentary rock, which is mainly composed of the remains of ancient diatoms. Its chemical composition is mainly SiO2, which can be expressed by SiO2 · nH2O, and its mineral composition is Opal and its variants. Diatomite reserves in China are 320 million tons, with prospective reserves of more than 2 billion tons, mainly concentrated in East China and Northeast China, of which Jilin, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Shandong, Sichuan and other provinces have large-scale reserves.

China's diatomite has proven reserves of 320 million tons. High quality soil is mainly concentrated in the Changbai Mountain Area of Jilin Province, accounting for about 2/3 of the country. Most of the other deposits are grade 3-4 soil. Due to the high content of impurities, it cannot be directly processed and utilized. The main mineral composition of diatomite is opal. Under the electron microscope, it looks like a honeycomb, with a loose density of 0.3-0.5g/cm3 and a Mohs hardness of 1~1.5. It is a poor conductor of heat, electricity and sound, with a melting point of more than 1300 ° C and high chemical stability. It is this outstanding chemical and physical properties that determine that diatomite products diatomite mud has good plasticity and safety.

The color of diatomite is white, grayish white, gray, light gray, light grayish brown, light yellow, etc; Density 1.9~2.3g/cm3; Bulk density 0.34~0.65g/cm3; Melting point 1650 ℃ ~1750 ℃; Specific surface area 19~65cm2/g; Pore volume 0.45~0.98cm3/g; The water absorption is 2-4 times of its own volume. High chemical stability, insoluble in hydrochloric acid, easily soluble in alkali, with relatively incompressible, soft, sound insulation, wear resistance, heat resistance and many other excellent properties.